Country Report of Croatia - UN-GGIMggim.un.org/country-reports/documents/Croatia-2011... ·...

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HIGH LEVEL FORUM ON GLOBAL CONFERENCE ROOM PAPER GEOSPATIAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NO. 13 First Forum Seoul, Republic of Korea, 24-26 October 2011

Country Report of Croatia *

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* Submitted by: Željko Bačić – Director General, State Geodetic Administration

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REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

State Geodetic Administration

GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION

MANAGEMENT IN CROATIA

2011 Report

for the High‐Level Forum on Global Geospatial Information Management

and

Inaugural Session of the UN Committee of Experts on GGIM

Seoul, Republic of Korea, 24‐26 October 2011

Prepared by: Submitted by:

Msc Ljerka Rašić Prof. Željko Bačić, PhD

Assistant Director Director General

NSDI Sector, SGA SGA

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Abstract

This report is dealing with current situation on management of geoinformation in Republic of

Croatia, on state level. At this moment focus is on National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and

geospatial services. At the territory of the South‐Eastern Europe, the framework of their

establishment is determined by the INSPIRE Directive of the European Union representing the

framework of SDI establishment not only for the member states of the European Union, but

for the other states of Europe as well. According to that Croatian NSDI has to be harmonized

with the development of spatial data infrastructures on the European (INSPIRE) and global

(GSDI, UN‐GGIM) levels. Paper describes legal and institutional frame for development of

NSDI, international cooperation on the field of spatial data and briefly describes services

offered by national mapping agency as well as some examples of spatial data services under

responsibility of other state bodies.

GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION MANAGMENT IN CROATIA 2011 REPORT

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CONTENTS

1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................5

2 The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) development .........................................6

2.1 Institutional Framework.............................................................................................7

2.2 Legal Aspect on Spatial Data Infrastructure .............................................................8

3 International cooperation...................................................................................................9

3.1 Participation in International Organisations ..............................................................9

3.1.1 EuroGeographics..................................................................................................9

3.1.2 Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Organisation (GSDI) .....................................10

3.1.3 International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) .......................................................10

3.1.4 European Spatial Data Research (EuroSDR).....................................................11

3.1.5 United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGEN)...........12

3.2 Bilateral Cooperation and Donations......................................................................13

3.2.1 International NSDI Workshops – Sharing of Best Practices ...............................15

3.3 Croatia as Initiator and Mover of NSDI Development in the Region.......................17

4 Geospatial Services ........................................................................................................19

4.1 Geospatial Services Offered by SGA .....................................................................19

4.1.1 E-Cadastre..........................................................................................................19

4.1.2 Croatian Positioning System...............................................................................19

4.1.3 Croatian Geographical Names Gazetteer Service..............................................20

4.1.4 SGA Geoportal ...................................................................................................21

4.1.5 EuroGeoNames ..................................................................................................22

4.2 Institutional Cooperation dealing with Geospatial Information................................22

4.3 Geospatial Services Offered by Other Institutions..................................................24

4.3.1 CORINE - COoRdination of INformation on the Environment ............................24

4.3.2 ARKOD - The Land Parcel Identification System ...............................................24

5 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................26

6 More information can be found .......................................................................................27


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1 INTRODUCTION

The most important activities related to Geospatial Information Management (GIM) in

Republic of Croatia on state level, are done under the auspices of the State Geodetic

Administration (SGA). SGA represents Croatian national mapping and cadastre agency,

dealing with administrative and professional tasks in the field of geodesy, cartography,

cadastre and photogrammetry. As part of its activity, the SGA also takes care of the

computerization of the cadastre, geodetic and spatial system, State official cartography,

geodetic and technical documentation, statistics about the real estate cadastre and spatial

units and the geodetic works connected with the State border. Pursuant to the Law on State

Survey and Real State Cadastre, Official Gazette 16/07 (further in text: Law), that came into

force in February 2007, the SGA has become the Croatian National Spatial Data

Infrastructure (NSDI) coordination body. It acts as the Secretariat of the NSDI Council,

coordinates all NSDI bodies and provides technical support.

The SGA consists of the Head Office in Zagreb, 20 regional cadastral offices and 112 cadastral

branch offices. The total number of employees in the State Geodetic Administration is 1,100.

The Head Office is divided into six sectors:

Sector for legal and financial affairs,

Sector for information system,

Sector for topographic survey and state maps,

Sector for cadastral system,

Sector for state survey and,

Sector for NSDI.

Main activities on geospatial information management in SGA could be divided in two main

fields:

Activities concerning Spatial Data Infrastructure

Activities on different geospatial services offered by SGA.


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2 THE NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE (NSDI)

DEVELOPMENT

It could be said that National Spatial Data Infrastructure represents the highest level of

Geospatial Information Management for every country. Considering the issues of

establishing national, i.e. national and regional SDI, at the territory of the South‐Eastern

Europe, the framework of their establishment is determined by the INSPIRE Directive of the

European Union representing the framework of SDI establishment not only for the member

states of the European Union, but for the other states of Europe as well. This framework is

not obligatory for the moment for the states that are not the members of the European

Union, but considering their tendency to become the member states, it actually presents the

framework within these states develop their national SDI. The above stated results from the

political attitudes of the states in the South‐Eastern Europe, the level of their development

and the economic power, as well as from their historical heritage.

According to that Croatian NSDI has to be harmonized with the development of spatial data

infrastructures on the European (INSPIRE) and global (GSDI, UN‐GGIM) levels, but beside the

development at national levels, it has to influence the development of spatial data

infrastructures at a local level.

Visions that defined road of development for the Croatian NSDI are:

make existing spatial data available to all interested users,

become a means for development and a goal of the Croatian spatial data market,

harmonize the policy, technical standards and operational capabilities of the NSDI

with European principles,

become an integral part of the e‐Government program,

develop a well organized geoinformational community in the sense of open public‐

private‐academic partnership.


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2.1 Institutional Framework

The Law defines the SDI institutional framework for the SDI establishment. A three‐tier

organization has been foreseen and is already established. Bodies of NSDI that represent

main initiator or mover of NSDI development are:

The NSDI Council,

NSDI Board and

Workgroups.

The supreme SDI governing body is the SDI Council appointed by the Croatian Government

in 2008. It is the body at the highest, political level. Beside its president, the Council consists

of 14 members coming from different ministries, responsible for the environmental

protection and spatial planning, defence, land registry, transport and communications,

agriculture, forestry and water management, science and education, culture, state

administration body responsible for e‐government, state survey and real property cadastre

(SGA), statistics, Croatian Hydro graphic Institute, geodetic and geoinformatics economic

community, IT economic community as well as the Croatian Chamber of Chartered Engineers

of Geodesy. The SDI Council is responsible for leading the establishment of the national SDI

and the coordination of the activities of the national SDI subjects. SDI Council is a body which

implements the National Spatial Data Infrastructure within the Republic of Croatia and

coordinates the activities of NSDI subjects within the scope and with rights and obligations

determined by the Law.

Fig 1: Relations between NSDI bodies in Croatia

At the managerial level, there is the SDI Board appointed by the Council in 2008. The SDI

Board is a permanent executive body for the SDI establishment, and it is comprised of:


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three representatives of the NSDI Council,

two representatives of the State Geodetic Administration,

heads of workgroups.

At the operational level, there are workgroups. Heads of workgroups are appointed by the

NSDI Council. Members of the workgroups are civil servants, regional, local or public

officials, scientists and representatives of professional associations and experts from the

private sector. There are five implemented workgroups at the operational level, dealing with

specialized tasks:

Workgroup for NSDI technical standards,

Workgroup for NSDI data sharing,

Workgroup for linking the NSDI program with e‐Government,

Workgroup for NSDI capacity building,

Workgroup for NSDI business model.

The SGA, in fact the NSDI Sector in the SGA’s Central office, acts as the Secretariat of the SDI

Council, coordinates all SDI bodies and provides technical support. In 2010, the SGA has

been nominated as the national INSPIRE Point of Contact.

Besides the workgroups, there are several projects at the operational level dealing with

specific tasks and questions within the scope of NSDI.

2.2 Legal Aspect on Spatial Data Infrastructure

The first legislation concerning the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) in Croatia came into

force in February 2007. A separate chapter (Chapter V) defining the SDI was included in the

new Law on State Survey and Real Estate Cadastre (Official Gazette 16/07). The Law gives a

definition of the NSDI and metadata, content of the metadata information, services, NSDI

data and subjects that are obliged to participate in its establishment and maintenance.

Equally important is that it provides the institutional framework and defines the NSDI bodies

and their responsibilities. The SDI part of the Law is harmonized with the INSPIRE Directive

whereby the main INSPIRE idea is accepted but the content represents only part of the

topics comprised by the INSPIRE Directive. Currently, new law on SDI is being done, which


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will be done as separate law, and will represent transposition of INSPIRE directive in Croatian

legislation.

Croatia as a candidate country for the European Union was not obliged to implement the

INSPIRE Directive until 2009 as member States are, but the Directive is the subject of the

accession treaty. The NSDI development in Croatia is conformant to the INSPIRE Directive. In

2009, the INSPIRE Directive was included for the first time in the National Program for the

European Union Accession and the transposition of the INSPIRE Directive was monitored. It

is agreed that Croatia will transpose INSPIRE directive till joining European Union (2013).

3 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

SGA is very active on Europe, but also on global level participating in different activities

regarding spatial data. Our activity can be divided in two fields; active membership in

international organisations and bilateral cooperation.

3.1 Participation in International Organisations

Active participation in international organisation gives us ability to be part of all current

trends in spatial domain. According to this, SGA is recognized on Europe level like reliable

partner.

3.1.1 EuroGeographics

SGA as Croatian NMCA is member of EuroGeographics. European NMCAs are united in

EuroGeographics, a not‐for‐profit organisation formed in 2001 as the membership

association and their representative body. Its mission is to further the development of the

European Spatial Data Infrastructure through collaboration in the area of geographical

information, including topographic information, cadastre and land information. Activities of

EuroGeographics are:

Engagement with European decision‐makers in order to enables positive contribution

to important initiatives, policies and projects.

The exchange of best practice between members to understand and implement

policies, procedures and technologies;


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Harmonising national spatial datasets into a portfolio of integrated pan‐European

products and related services;

An ongoing programme of spatial data infrastructure projects, undertaken with

academic and commercial partners, enables members to contribute to the creation of

standard data specifications and policies.

Trough several projects EuroGeographics work with members, academia and commercial

companies to develop specifications, products and services to fulfil its vision – one Europe

united trough geographical information.

3.1.2 Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Organisation (GSDI)

GSDI World Organization is an organization that brings together organizations, agencies,

companies and individuals involved in establishing of spatial data infrastructure. The aim is

to promote international cooperation in order to provide support to the development of

local and national spatial data infrastructure as well as global spatial data infrastructure.

State Geodetic Administration has been a member of the GSDI since 2010.

3.1.3 International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)

FIG is international federation of surveyors established in 1878 in Paris by 7 member

associations (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and UK) and today, FIG has

got 273 national association members from 130 countries. State Geodetic Administration

from Croatia became an affiliate member of FIG on 8 June 2010. FIG is the only international

body which represents all surveying disciplines and its role is professional, institutional and

global development of these disciplines. This is carried out through Annual FIG Working

Weeks, FIG Congress every 4 years and work of 10 technical commissions. State Geodetic

Administration has participated in FIG Working Week 2009 in Eliat in Israel (3 papers), XXIV

FIG Congress 2010 in Sidney in Australia (6 papers) and FIG Working Week 2011 in

Marrakech in Morocco (5 papers).

On 8 Marc 2011, SGA nominated a correspondent to FIG Commission 3 – Spatial Information

Management. On 27 April 2011 SGA sent to FIG report about 2nd CROPOS Conference held

on 8 April 2011 in Croatia, organized by SGA, Faculty of Geodesy, Croatian Chamber of


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Licensed Engineers and Croatian Geodetic Society and that report was uploaded on the FIG

Web site as a good news.

3.1.4 European Spatial Data Research (EuroSDR)

EuroSDR organization was founded in 1953 in Paris on the recommendation of The Council

of Organizations for European Economic Cooperation and it is one of the oldest organizations

in the field of geoinformation. Founder countries are: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and

the Netherlands. EuroSDR is the research and development platform for national surveying

institutions, research and development institutes, private sector, industry and other groups

with respect to the European spatial data infrastructure. EuroSDR brings together research

institutions and companies in the field of geoinformation. Member States of EuroSDR are:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands,

Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Croatia was admitted

to EuroSDR membership on the 110th EuroSDR meeting which was held from 23rd to 25th

May 2007 in Rotterdam.

EuroSDR defines research themes that will be implemented within five scientific

committees:

1. Sensors, primary data collection and georeferencing

2. Analysis of images and getting information

3. Production systems and processes

4. Specification of data

5. Network Services

117th EuroSDR meeting in Zagreb

117th European Spatial Data Research (EuroSDR) meeting was organized from 27th to 29th of

October in Zagreb by the State Geodetic Administration and Croatian Geodetic Institute. This

is the first time that Croatia hosts EuroSDR meeting. To strengthen the region in the field of

geoinformatics and encourage the inclusion of countries in EuroSDR, representatives from

countries in the region were invited. The invitation was answered by representatives from

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.


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Lectures were given by speakers from government and public sectors, universities, research

and development sector and the private sector. At this meeting it is adopted the new Rolling

EuroSDR Research Plan 2011 ‐ 2014, as well as the plan and program of cooperation

between EuroSDR and ISPRS, and other conclusions.

Visit of EuroSDR vice president to Zagreb

EuroSDR vice president, prof. Dr.‐Ing. Christian Heipke from the Institut für

Photogrammetrie und Geoinformation, Leibniz Universität Hannover, at the invitation of

Croatian delegates, from 3rd to 5th April 2008 visited Zagreb. Organizers of the visit were

University of Zagreb Faculty of Geodesy, State Geodetic Administration and Croatian

Geodetic Institute. Prof. dr. Dr.‐Ing. Christian Heipke, held a lecture entitled Prospects of

photogrammetry and remote sensing in the digital area at the Faculty of Geodesy. Lecture,

in addition to review in recent developments of sensors, techniques and products,

elaborated the practical problematic of geometric / radiometric processing and image

analyses. An overview of sensors is shown in the lecture: high‐resolution satellite sensors

(optical, multi‐hyper spectral, radar), digital aero cameras (large and small format), Laser

Scanning using LIDAR (aerial and terrestrial in combination with optical sensors), infrared

sensors, etc. Sensor platforms and systems with particular emphasis on no‐pilot aircraft

were presented as well as sensor systems connected to devices for positioning and

determining the height.

More about EuroSDR can be found on the website http://www.eurosdr.net.

3.1.5 United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGEN)

UNGEGN is a body of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). UNGEGN is one

of the seven expert bodies of ECOSOC.

Some of the main goals of UNGEGN are to encourage national and international

geographical names standardization, to promote the international dissemination of

nationally standardized geographical names information and to adopt single romanization

systems. UNGEGN's goal for every country is to decide on its own nationally standardized

names through the creation of national names authorities or recognized administrative

processes.


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The United Nations Conference on the standardization of geographical names is held every

five years. To make the work easier, UNGEGN Divisions have been formed. East Central and

South‐East Europe (ECSEE) Division is one of the 23 UNGEGN Divisions. The countries of the

East Central and South‐East Europe Division (ECSEED) are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia,

Slovakia, Slovenia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Ukraine.

State Geodetic Administration as representative of Republic of Croatia is chairing East

Central and South‐East Europe Division (ECSEED) since 2007.

3.2 Bilateral Cooperation and Donations

In last years SGA had very fruitful bilateral cooperation with several countries. In frame of

the mention cooperation significant funds were received (table1).

Donor/ Source Project Title Main Results

Kingdom of Netherlands

Cadastral Pilot Project Babina Greda

1999‐2003 ‐to introduce new technologies in cadastral surveys (wide application of digital ortophoto maps), ‐the closest possible contact of the contractor with the population involved in the measuring, and the analysis of work procedure, cost, technology and the time necessary for the survey. ‐During the Pilot Project implementation, the Cadastral and Court Committee, in accordance with the legal regulations in force, conducted and applied legal provisions in the procedure of establishing a new land registry, so that the actual establishment of new land registry is performed on the basis and in accordance with the procedure conducted in that Pilot Project.

FR Germany Project of Technical Cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Croatia for Improvement of the Cadastral System in the Republic of Croatia

2000‐2003 ‐development of a new cadastral data model, application of new methods in cadastral survey, ‐data exchange among the Cadastre, Land Registry and local self‐government units, ‐potential of establishing a communal information system based on such data.

United Kingdom

Preparation Phase of World Bank project on Property Rights and Registration in the Republic of Croatia

05/2001‐05/2002 ‐many workshops and work meetings, presentations of research and study results were organized, as well as study tours ‐ 40 documents were prepared containing almost 1.200 pages needed for the main Project implementation

Kingdom of Norway

Project for Improving Capacity of Establishing Cadastral and Topographic Databases in Croatia – CRONO GIP I

17.12.2001‐2010 ‐ establish capacities within the SGA (Scanning Centre) in order to construct a cadastral data base by scanning the existing archaic paper‐based maps and develop and demonstrate practical solutions for using databases in regional/local cadastral offices; ‐established capacities within the SGA with the goal of constructing


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and maintaining a digital topographic data base (topographic maps) and demonstrate that the SGA can provide the users from the private and public sector with digital and topographic maps and plans; ‐ establishing quality control system for TM 1:25.000 and DOF 1:5.000 on chosen amount of samples plus to work out a model of internal control of external producers of those products.

Kingdom of Sweden

Project for Capacity Building for the Implementation of National and International Projects within the frames of the State Survey and Real Estate Cadastre Program for the period 2001 ‐ 2005 and the Real Property Registration and Cadastre Project (SB) – Phase I,II and III

2003‐2008 ‐organization of advanced preparation trainings for the PIU, Project Support Units within MoJ and SGA, as well as for MoJ and SGA official ‐organised seminars, workshops and study tours for: I phase ‐72 employees II phase ‐ 463 employees III phase ‐ ongoing


Capacity Building at MOJ and SGA necessary for Systematic Development of Property and Cadastre Registers

2003‐2004 ‐Proposal of Measures for Capacity Strengthening at the Department and in education and training program for the new Department’s employees ‐Participants of the Project, Ministries’ representatives, Municipal Courts’ Presidents and land registration judges analyzed, with the support from Kadaster and SGA, the status of the land registration

Kingdom of Norway

Project for Improving Capacity of Establishing Cadastral and Topographic Databases in Croatia‐ CRONO GIP II

5.12.2002 ‐ further development of procedures of vectorization and production line ‐ development of application for vectorization of Croatian basic map in the scale 1:5.000 ‐ further capacity‐building of the CGI in establishing quality control system ‐ development of GIS environment for the Public Institution of the National Park Kornati, based on the cadastral survey data and land registry renewal for the Cadastral Municipality Kornati, the area under multiple protection regimes (National park, maritime domain, Islands Act) and development of procedures for such areas.

FR Germany Project of Technical Cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Croatia for Improvement of the Cadastral System in the Republic of Croatia – extension

2003‐2005 ‐ Pilot Project Labin; land registry renewal and data integration into the GIS of the City of Labin; intended experience distribution to other local self‐government units, ‐ testing new survey techniques and procedures on a polygon in the river Neretva valley, ‐ further activities in defining data model for the real property cadastre and ‐ conducting a study on GPS application at national level in Croatia.

Kingdom of Norway

Pilot Project for Maritime Domain Registration in the County of Zadar

2004‐2006 • Improvements are introduced into the pilot area aiming at expediting the establishment of maritime domain and ensuring continued maintenance and regular dealing with concessions. • procedures and technical instructions for the establishment of maritime domain lots are tested, assessed and improved for the further regular use. • maritime domain areas (lots) are established for the pilot areas and entered into the Cadastre and Land Registry, and prepared for entering into the County Register of Concessions. • the Pilot Project is well documented and will be beneficial as the basis for planning further projects on the Croatian cost.


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Kingdom of Norway

CRONO GIP III 2006‐2008 ‐preparation of products specifications and quality assurance mechanisms for cadastral resurveys ‐Geographical Names Information System

Kingdom of Norway

CRONO GIP IV 2006‐2007 ‐efficient storage and access to geographic names and accompanying data in digital form ‐optimal methods for efficient transformation of maps scaled 1:5000 from analogue to digital ‐efficient delivery of digital maps to customers ‐development of internet access to topographic maps in scale 1:25 000

FR Germany Project of Technical Cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Croatia for Improvement of the Cadastral System in the Republic of Croatia – extension

2006/2007 ‐ Pilot Project Labin; land registry renewal and data integration into the GIS of the City of Labin; intended experience distribution to other local self‐government units, ‐ testing new survey techniques and procedures on a polygon in the river Neretva valley, ‐ further activities in defining data model for the real property cadastre and ‐ conducting a study on GPS application at national level in Croatia.

Kingdom of Norway

LPIS support project 2007/2008 ‐final product specifications implemented and production and quality control processes for relevant products in place ‐improved functionality for scanning and georeferencing cadastral maps implemented ‐database of cadastral maps operational on 24/7 basis efficiently servicing the LPIS ‐improved data centre at SGA –phase 2 upgrading ‐SGA management strengthened to efficiently deal with data preparation, data production, and data dissemination relevant to LPIS ‐CGI strengthened to efficiently undertake it’s obligations in respect to undertake quality control of data for the LPIS ‐A regional seminar on preparation of cadastral data and harmonization with land registry data shall be executed


Business plan project 2007/2008 ‐ Development of business plan of the State Geodetic Administration and Ministry of Justice regarding Joint Information System


Key registers project 2010/2011 ‐ Introducing Key registers concept to most important stakeholders in Croatian state administration and developing concept on implementation of this concept in Croatia based on and around development of Joint Information System of Land Registry and Cadastre in Croatia

Table 1: SGA’s bilateral cooperation

3.2.1 International NSDI Workshops – Sharing of Best Practices

According to the Law, SGA acts as coordination body for SDI establishment since 2007. But

much before, SGA took the first steps towards SDI establishment. The SGA recognized the

importance of education of the NSDI subjects and awareness rising of the general public;

therefore a series of activities to meet these objectives was carried out.


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In order to inform the overall geo‐information society about the National SDI concept and

introduce the preparations for the work of the Council and other National SDI bodies, the

SGA has organized the consultancies and brought in experts from the countries where the

National SDI development had been the most successful. The following four workshops were

organized in order to share the experiences:

In collaboration with the Swedish Agency for Development Cooperation (SIDA)

and the Swedish Geodetic Authority (Lantmäteriet), the first consultancy on the

National SDI establishment was organized on May 29, 2007, for the

representatives of the institutions contributing their members to the National SDI

Council, and on May 30, 2007, for the representatives of all National SDI subjects

(approx. 150 members).

On September 12, 2007, the SGA organized in cooperation with the Canadian

Embassy in Zagreb the presentation of the Canadian model of the National SDI

establishment. The consultancy participants represented a cross‐section of the

geo‐information society in Croatia and got the opportunity to see a new concept

of the successfully established National SDI.

In cooperation with the German Association for Technical Assistance (GTZ), a

two‐day consultancy was organized, presenting the National SDI system of the

Federal Republic of Germany. The consultancy was held on May 26, 2008, for the

members of the National SDI Council while on May 27, 2008, it was held for the

representatives of all the National SDI entities. The consultancy participants had

an opportunity to get familiarized with the spatial data infrastructure of Germany

in the context of the European guidelines and the INSPIRE Directive as well as

with a concrete example of the development of the spatial data infrastructure in

the Lower Saxony.

As part of the CRONO GIP (CROatian‐NOrwegian GeoInformation Project)

cooperation, the fourth workshop for sharing experiences was held on November

26, 2009, in Varaždin by presenting the Norwegian model of the SDI

establishment.


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3.3 Croatia as Initiator and Promotor of NSDI Development in the

South‐East Europe Region

In the last years, preparing for the introduction of the National SDI, and later through the

implementation of the provisions of the Law on State Survey and Real Estate Cadastre

referring to the establishment of the National SDI, the State Geodetic Administration has

gathered new experiences in the field that was not within the scope of its activities earlier. It

implied additional efforts for SGA to start working on the activities connected with the

National SDI along with numerous activities connected with the land administration reform

that had been carried out in the Republic of Croatia until the first Law on State Survey and

Real Estate Cadastre was passed (1999). The experience has been gathered with the help of

international experts and by means of financial means provided by donor countries, the

European Union and the World Bank credits. The other countries in the region have started

with similar activities almost at the same time, or a few years later, recognizing SDI as an

important conceptual and operational matter. As the result of these efforts, the basic

National SDI legislation has been adopted in Croatia, but also in Macedonia (2008) and in

Serbia (2009) while in Bosnia and Herzegovina this legislation is in preparation. The

implementation of that legislation in each of these countries is the responsibility of the

National Mapping and Cadastre Authorities (NMCA's).

Recognizing the fact that all geodetic administration in neighboring countries are carrying

out the land administration reform, and are initiating the activities of introducing the

National SDI in the similar way, SGA has suggested the initiation of the regional development

project SDI. The project was directed to the solution of the problems recognized in all

countries: lack of awareness related to the National SDI, lack of capacities and technical

knowledge, lack of various national databases and relatively low data exchange culture. The

project has been supported by six countries along with Croatia that are located in the area of

South‐Eastern Europe, i.e. as described in the project in the area of the Western Balkans:

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia. The essence of

the project ”INSPIRATION – SDI for the Western Balkans” is contained in the cooperation of

the included institutions and countries and in providing multiple benefit from the mutual

work on the development of IPP. The concentration of the existing capacities and the


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involvement of the capacities of project contractors will provide together with other

activities such as Regional Conference on Cadastre and its bodies and working groups the

accelerated development of national SDIs, the development of necessary capacities, the

notion of the need to cooperate on smaller known sample, as the prelude for the process of

including into the European Union and the development of services and tools that will be

available not only to the organization that has developed certain service or tool, but to the

other participants in the project.

The project proposal was preceded by the first Regional Conference on Cadastre held in June

8‐10 2008 in Opatija, Croatia where all NMCA's of region countries agreed referring to the

mutual endeavor to provide for the citizens, economic subjects and institutions opportune,

updated, accurate, reliable spatial information in efficient and rational way, having in mind

ever growing significance of cadastre and spatial data infrastructure for the development of

modern societies based on georeference data. At the same Conference there was also the

first mutual project initiated: the preparation of the Regional study on cadastre intended to

collect the information about legal, institutional and organization framework of the land

administration, reform programs and the situation in land cadastre of the countries included

into the work of the Regional Conference on Cadastre (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Monte Negro, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia), and their processing and

interpretation according to the unique criteria.

At the next three regional conferences (June 2009 in Ohrid, Macedonia, June 2010 in Bečići,

Monte Negro and June 2011, Bled Slovenia) the program of cooperation included the

exchange of experiences and the creation of the bases for the establishment of national and

regional SDI recognizing the importance of the concept of spatial data infrastructure on

national as well as on regional level. Having such vision of cooperation in mind, all countries

of the region have confirmed their mutual willingness to realize a mutual project with the

aim to develop national and regional spatial data infrastructure in accordance with the

standards of INSPIRE Directive.


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4 GEOSPATIAL SERVICES

As it is known fact, core business of every NMCA is spatial data. But, other institutions, to

which spatial data are not their primary task, also have their own services dealing with

spatial data. On next pages we described SGA services and services offered by other

institutions.

4.1 Geospatial Services Offered by SGA

As a governmental body answerable for data collecting, processing and simulation in

Republic of Croatia, SGA represent its datasets, products and services to the public, its

customer. Following the market needs, SGA has produced several web services.

4.1.1 E‐Cadastre

Alphanumeric cadastral data are the first group of the SGA’s data completely transformed

into digital format and offered for public use via Internet on www.katastar.hr. Alphanumeric

cadastral data are originally maintained by cadastral offices and their data can be accessed

through the cadastral map browser used for searching databases produced in the SGA

central office. One of the basic principles of the browser is its „completeness“, thus it

enables the possibility of accessing official data for all cadastral municipalities which exist in

the country on a certain day. The data can be accessed by entering a certain parcel number

in the selected cadastral municipality or by entering the proprietorship certificate number.

There is great interest, both professional community and the citizens, to provide insight into

the digital cadastral maps in the same way, thus using the Internet, via the Browser of

cadastral data. SGA has undertaken the first activities in order to fulfil mentioned

requirements.

4.1.2 Croatian Positioning System

Croatian Positioning System (CROPOS) was established in 2008. During

more than two years of operation, 348 companies have been registered. CROPOS

enables simpler, more efficient and reliable use of GNSS (Global Navigation

Satellite System) measurements. In order to ensure the best possible coverage of the


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Croatian border areas and increase the reliability of the system in the event of an unplanned

downtime of a reference station, with 30 Croatian GNSS stations in a networked solution

and the correction parameters determination seven Slovenian, four Hungarian and two

Montenegrin stations are included. In order to provide users with the determination of the

coordinates in real time during conducting field measurements, both, in the old coordinate

system (HDKS) and new reference terrestrial system (HTRS96) and the determination of

heights in the old high‐altitude system (Trieste) and the new vertical reference system

(HVRS71), a unique transformational model T7D and a new model of the geoid (HRG2009)

were developed and integrated into CROPOS system.

Thanks to high technology and the technical quality of all system components, but also

daily system maintenance and administration, reliable system operation has been ensured,

so that in the past 28 months the system was unexpectedly unavailable only 20 hours, which

means that the system availability was 99.9%. Some 400 users are registered in system with

950 receivers which monthly use of system is between 500.000 and 600.000 minutes.

Through the establishment of CROPOS systems and development of a unique model of

transformation and its implementation in CROPOS system, a significant technological

step forward was realized, enabling the distribution of data in real‐time and application

of modern measurement methods in solving the task of surveying the more rapid,

simpler and more reliable way. It is important to emphasize that the Republic of Croatia is

one of the first countries in Europe that have successfully implemented a transformation

model into system of networked reference stations, allowed sending of transformation

parameters and performing transformations during field measurements.

4.1.3 Croatian Geographical Names Gazetteer Service

Croatian geographic names information system is developed in accordance with UNGEGN,

EuroGeoNames and INSPIRE principles. The geographical names web service is published on

the Internet address http://cgn.dgu.hr. The Gazetteer contains endonyms. The service

provides search of geographical names on the Croatian territory by name or part of the

name, according to the classification of geographic objects and spatial search by counties.


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Spatial querying after counties is giving opportunity to search for names only in selected

counties.

Visualization of a name could be made choosing Google Map background. Service enables to

report on or off‐line correction of the name or name attributes. Service is also enabling to

make on or off‐line proposal of the new geographical name. For the queried name is feature

given in ten languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Hungarian,

Slovenian, Slovakian and Czech.

Fig. 2: Geospatial Services offered by SGA

4.1.4 SGA Geoportal

Trough the Program of State Survey and Real Estate Cadastre for the period 2001‐2005

several databases in SGA had been developed. The next step was development and

establishment of SGA Geoportal which became operational in May 2009. SGA Geoportal is

designed as geospatial portal according to Reference architecture of geospatial portals

defined by Open GIS consortium (OGC), built on Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)

principles and in‐line with ISO/OGC standards and INSPIRE directive. The Geoportal offers a

metadata‐driven catalogue‐service for publish‐and‐find functionality. The catalogue contains


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metadata descriptions of all resources and allows users and other applications/portals to

query and find these resources. The metadata records are also accessible for engine‐to‐

engine access in a standardized ISO‐based structure. In the first phase five data sets have

been put on the Geoportal: orthophoto, cadastral maps in raster format, Croatian base map

at the scale 1:5000 and already existing geodetic points and register of spatial units systems

are linked. At the same time Geoportal has web sale functionality.

4.1.5 EuroGeoNames

EuroGeoNames (EGN) is a service of European geographical names infrastructure.

EuroGeoNames system is under the EuroGeographics jurisdiction. In the EGN system is

included thirteen countries (see Fig. 3). Croatian national EGN system was developed and

Croatia was connected in to the EuroGeoNames system. EuroGeoNames web service can be

called from website http://www.eurogeonames.com/refappl. Croatian interface should be

called by selecting the language at the top right corner of this web site. Croatian database of

geographical names is maintained by the State Geodetic Administration of the Croatia.

Fig. 3 EuroGeoNames countries.

4.2 Institutional Cooperation dealing with Geospatial Information

The State Geodetic Administration has very long tradition in cooperation with other state

and self‐government bodies in order to produce spatial data under its jurisdiction, as

primary set of spatial data needed for different purposes.


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One of the most fruitful cooperation among public sector is cooperation between State

Geodetic Administration and Ministry of Culture. Cooperation started in 2006 in frame of the

Agreement on cooperation in the development of spatial data and establishment of GIS for

national parks and cultural resources in national parks. Multiyear efforts and activities

resulted with establishment of Protected Areas Management System (PAMS), fig. 4, based

on spatial data produced in SGA. The main results of the PAMS projects are:

access to standardized digital information that include spatial information regarding

the protection areas,

regarding the cultural heritage,

updated spatial data (topographic, orthophoto and cadastral) for protected areas,

more efficient national parks management and coordination of the policy of the

national parks protection,

better protection and management of the protection areas and the cultural heritage.

Fig 4. Protected Areas Management System

Cooperation continued in frame of the new agreement, regarding activities and jurisdiction

from both sides, concerning spatial data, registration of special regimes of protection and IT

interconnection. Both partners found mutual interests for accessing truthful, updated spatial

data that shall demonstrate protected areas of cultural and natural heritage in unique,

standardized way with international standards, as to public knowledge and as well for all

professionals in the protection institutions and for sharing with other public bodies and local


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self‐government. The new activities are focused on using spatial data from SGA geoportal

on‐line what is the base concept of the SDI.

4.3 Geospatial Services Offered by Other Institutions

There are several spatial data services offered by other state bodies as well as by self‐

government bodies. Below are shown some examples.

4.3.1 CORINE ‐ COoRdination of INformation on the Environment

Croatian Environment Agency (CEA) is the national focal point for collaboration with the

European Environment Agency (EEA) included in the European Environment Information and

Observation Network (EIONET). The purpose of CORINE program (COoRdination of

INformation on the Environment) is identification and meaningful categorisation of land

cover that includes defined nomenclature of coding and production of the quality database

needed for supervising, organizing and managing natural resources on regional and national

level. CEA is the national focal point for management and dissemination of CORINE data

bases.

Corine Land Cover Croatia (CLC Croatia) is a project which resulted in digital up‐to‐date land

cover database according to CORINE nomenclature, which is consistent and homogeneous

with data across entire Europe. OIKON Ltd. and GISDATA Ltd. were responsible for the CLC

interpretation to produce the CLC databases and the CLC‐Changes database by using the

satellite images.

The results of the CORINE Land Cover project for Croatia are digital databases for the

reference year 2006, 2000, 1990 and 1980, including Land Cover change databases and are

owned by Croatian Environment Agency. Corine land cover map 2006 of Croatia consists of

24630 polygons classified into 39 classes (out of 44 classes on third level of Corine

Classification).

4.3.2 ARKOD ‐ The Land Parcel Identification System

The Land Parcel Identification System in the Republic of Croatia was published under the

acronym of „ARKOD” in the summer of 2009. ARKOD is a national system of identification of


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land parcels, or records of use of agricultural land in Croatia. ARKOD goal is to provide

farmers easier and simpler way of applying for incentives as well as their transparent use.

The farmers can register in ARKOD free of charge and the registration is performed in the

regional offices of the Agency for Payments in Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development

as well as in local offices of the Croatian Agricultural Agency. ARKOD is based on the existing,

alphanumerical Farm Register.

Fig. 6. ARKOD viewer

The project was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development in

collaboration with the State Geodetic Administration and Croatian Geodetic Institute of the

Central State Office for Administration. To implement ARKOD on the ground, about 240

employees will be in charge in state administration offices in counties and in the City of

Zagreb.


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CONCLUSION

Croatia is on the way to build NSDI in line with European INSPIRE directive. Institutional

framework is already in function. SGA as body responsible for technical support has

undertaken several activities. The main current activities are focused on preparing a new law

on NSDI fully in line with INSPIRE directive.

Several spatial data services produced by SGA, as well as by other state and self‐government

bodies, are already in function. The next step is to harmonise all data services according to

the technical standards coming from European and international level, and network all them

via national geoportal.

Through international cooperation in which SGA actively participates through various

processes, Croatia is trying to become truly a geo enabled society in the fullest sense of the

word.


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MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND

NSDI web site http://www.nSDI.hr/

State geodetic administration http://www.dgu.hr/

SGA Services

e‐cadaster http://www.katastar.hr/

CROPOS http://www.cropos.hr/

SGA Geporta http://www.geo‐portal.hr/

Croatian Geographical

names gazetter service

http://cgn.dgu.hr

EuroGeoNames http://www.eurogeonames.com/refappl.

Other institutions and their services

ARKOD http://www.arkod.hr/

PAMS http://www.zastita‐prirode.hr/pams/sto‐je‐

pams.html

Croatian Environment Agency (CEA) http://www.azo.hr

CORINE http://www.azo.hr/Default.aspx?sec=500

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